We often get asked by people buying boxing gloves: leather or synthetic leather? There are major differences between leather gloves and synthetic leather boxing gloves.
Before making a choice, you first need to determine how often you will use them. The age and motivation of the person who will wear them are also important.
And of course, you also need to consider your budget. We sell genuine leather boxing gloves starting at €50, but we also have gloves costing €300 and more: the Cleto Reyes boxing gloves, and even much more expensive gloves from Winning!
Why choose leather boxing gloves?
Leather boxing gloves have long been considered the standard choice for professional boxers. The main advantages of leather boxing gloves are the material’s durability and strength.
Leather is naturally resistant to wear and tearing, meaning leather boxing gloves last a long time, even with intensive use.
They are designed to withstand powerful punches and provide excellent protection for the hands and knuckles.
Leather boxing gloves also offer a superior fit and comfort. Over time, leather adapts to the shape of the boxer’s hands, creating a personal and comfortable fit.
This is important because a good fit can absorb the impact of punches and reduce the risk of injury. In addition, leather’s breathable nature helps prevent the hands from sweating as quickly during boxing.
Another advantage of leather boxing gloves is their appearance and style. They have a classic, professional look and are often associated with high-quality boxing gloves.
This can be an important consideration for boxers who value the aesthetic aspects of their equipment.
Why choose synthetic leather boxing gloves?
On the other hand, non-leather boxing gloves also have their advantages. An important reason why people choose non-leather boxing gloves is ethics.
Non-leather boxing gloves are usually made from synthetic materials such as PU leather or vinyl, making them suitable for boxers who do not want to use animal products.
Non-leather boxing gloves can also be lighter than leather boxing gloves, which can increase the boxer’s freedom of movement. This can be especially important during matches or intensive training sessions where speed and agility are essential.
In addition, non-leather boxing gloves are often cheaper than leather boxing gloves, making them an affordable choice for beginner boxers or people with a limited budget.
The main disadvantage of non-leather boxing gloves is potentially their durability. Although synthetic materials are continually improving and becoming more resistant to wear, non-leather boxing gloves generally cannot offer the same lifespan as leather boxing gloves.
There are clear exceptions to this, as virtually all microfiber Rival boxing gloves are even more durable and more wear-resistant than genuine leather boxing gloves.
When choosing between leather and non-leather boxing gloves, it is important to consider your needs, preferences, and budget. If you are looking for durability, protection, and a professional appearance, leather boxing gloves are probably the best choice.
If, on the other hand, you have ethical considerations, need a lightweight design, or have a limited budget, non-leather boxing gloves may be a good option.
Regardless of your choice, it is crucial to select high-quality boxing gloves that meet safety standards and are suitable for your specific boxing techniques and needs.
Boxing gloves are an investment in your safety and performance in the ring, so choose wisely and enjoy your boxing training.
Boxing gloves for kids
Children who box or kickbox once a week can train perfectly well with synthetic leather boxing gloves. They do not yet have the strength to punch hard, and synthetic leather boxing gloves are attractively priced.
For example, we sell red, blue, black, and pink synthetic leather boxing gloves starting at just €30.
It is advisable to have children wear inner gloves. These absorb sweat from the hands, meaning less sweat gets into the gloves.
This helps prevent the boxing gloves from developing an unpleasant smell! You can then put the inner gloves in the wash so they are fresh again for the next training session.
Not leaving the boxing gloves in the bag and allowing them to air properly after training is crucial for both synthetic leather and leather boxing gloves.
For Children who train twice or more per week, we recommend buying leather boxing gloves.
The boxing gloves are used more intensively, and since leather is stronger than synthetic leather, a 100% leather glove is the preferred choice.
A leather glove is naturally more expensive, but it also has a longer lifespan. For children, we sell genuine leather boxing gloves in 6 oz and 8 oz for €50, making them only slightly more expensive than synthetic leather gloves!
Boxing gloves for women and men
The same applies to adults as to children, and the main consideration is how often the gloves are used each week.
If you train once a week and are a beginner, a synthetic leather boxing glove is an excellent choice. After all, you may find that you do not enjoy it as much as expected, and then you will be left with a more expensive leather version.
However, if you train twice a week or more, a leather boxing glove is really necessary. Leather is usually simply stronger than synthetic leather and is therefore also better able to withstand more intensive training.
The more often you train, the better your technique and punching power become. We also recommend that adults wear handwraps, gel wraps, or inner gloves. These absorb sweat, and handwraps in particular create a compact fist so you can punch harder.
They also provide additional safety by stabilizing all the bones in the hands. We recommend the XPRT Pro V3 Boxing Gloves. They are made of genuine leather, have an excellent fit, and feature firm padding. Without a doubt, the boxing glove in our range with the best value for money!
Maintaining leather and synthetic leather boxing gloves
For all gloves, make sure to take them out of your sports bag after training and allow them to air properly. A good place is on the doormat or by a window where there is a slight draft. This allows the sweat in your gloves to evaporate more quickly and helps prevent them from developing an unpleasant smell.
Leather gloves should be regularly conditioned with a little petroleum jelly or leather grease. The best time is before and after winter. This keeps the leather supple. You can of course do it more often as well.
Keep in mind that even the best boxing gloves eventually need to be replaced. Many experts recommend replacing them after 9 to 12 months.
They may last longer, but by then the padding will probably provide considerably less protection and be less safe.
It is also advisable to regularly wash your handwraps or inner gloves. Not everyone sweats the same amount, but after using them twice, I would still give them a quick wash at 30 degrees.
Still unsure when buying boxing gloves: leather or synthetic leather? Of course, you can come and try on the synthetic leather and leather boxing gloves in our showroom and feel the difference for yourself.
We are open 6 days a week, and you can park for free in front of the door!
